Abrasive Wheels Training Certificate Safety Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, what is the employee's duty regarding abrasive wheel safety?
- Employees have no legal duties, only employers do
- To take reasonable care of their own and others' health and safety, and to cooperate with their employer (Correct answer)
- To purchase their own PPE
- To carry out their own risk assessments
Correct answer: To take reasonable care of their own and others' health and safety, and to cooperate with their employer
Section 7 of HASAWA 1974 requires employees to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others who may be affected by their acts or omissions, and to cooperate with their employer on health and safety matters.
Question 2: According to HSE guidance, who is an 'appointed person' in relation to abrasive wheels?
- Any employee who has used an abrasive wheel before
- A person who has been specifically trained and formally appointed by the employer to mount abrasive wheels (Correct answer)
- The company health and safety representative
- A visiting HSE inspector
Correct answer: A person who has been specifically trained and formally appointed by the employer to mount abrasive wheels
An 'appointed person' is someone who has received specific training in mounting abrasive wheels and has been formally appointed by their employer to carry out this task. Under the old 1970 regulations this was a strict legal requirement; under PUWER it falls under the competence/training provisions.
Question 3: What is the maximum penalty for a health and safety offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 when tried on indictment?
- A fine of £5,000
- A fine of £20,000
- An unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years imprisonment (Correct answer)
- A written warning from the HSE
Correct answer: An unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years imprisonment
When tried on indictment in the Crown Court, breaches of HASAWA 1974 can result in an unlimited fine and/or imprisonment for up to 2 years. Magistrates' Court penalties are lower but still significant.
Question 4: Which British and European standard covers the safety requirements for bonded abrasive products?
- BS EN 12413 (Correct answer)
- BS 7671
- BS EN 60204
- BS 5228
Correct answer: BS EN 12413
BS EN 12413 covers safety requirements for bonded abrasive products. It includes specifications for maximum operating speeds, marking requirements, dimensions, and testing procedures. Manufacturers must comply with this standard.
Question 5: Under PUWER 1998, Regulation 11, what must an employer provide to protect operators from dangerous parts of machinery including abrasive wheels?
- Warning signs only
- Effective guards or protection devices following a hierarchy of measures (Correct answer)
- Verbal instructions
- Insurance coverage
Correct answer: Effective guards or protection devices following a hierarchy of measures
PUWER 1998, Regulation 11 requires employers to take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. This follows a hierarchy: fixed guards, other guards/protection devices, protection appliances (jigs/holders), and information/training/supervision.
Question 6: What does RIDDOR require in relation to abrasive wheel incidents?
- All near-misses must be reported to the local council
- The burst or failure of an abrasive wheel must be reported to the HSE as a dangerous occurrence (Correct answer)
- Only fatal incidents need to be reported
- Incidents only need to be recorded in the company logbook
Correct answer: The burst or failure of an abrasive wheel must be reported to the HSE as a dangerous occurrence
Under RIDDOR 2013 (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations), the bursting, collapse, or failure of an abrasive wheel is classified as a 'dangerous occurrence' and must be reported to the HSE, even if no injury results.
Abrasive Wheels Training Certificate Safety Regulations 2
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc.
Act 1974, what is the employee's duty regarding abrasive wheel safety?